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Colin Borland, of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: "A bottle deposit scheme is undoubtedly a popular idea. But it is understandable that those that run the very smallest shops have concerns about storage.

"That's why we've been working with officials, underlining the importance of an opt-out for those without appropriate capacity.

"We're unhappy that the Scottish Government hasn't taken on board our concerns, despite a commitment to address the problems such a scheme poses for small retailers.

"Ministers need to explain to those that run the smallest shops how this scheme will work for them."

A consultation is currently underway in England for a similar deposit return scheme and it also being considered by Northern Ireland.